City of Apache Junction 2017-18

City of Apache Junction

Nestled at the foot of the Superstition Mountains, Apache Junction is strategically positioned as the eastern gateway into the Greater Phoenix metro area (Valley of the Sun) and the western entry to the Tonto National Forest’s recreation venues. The surrounding geography and western atmosphere draw more than half a million visitors through the city annually. From the mysterious stories of hidden treasures to the people who follow them, Apache Junction is surrounded by legends.

Apache Junction projects

Transitioning mobile home/RV parks

As a popular destination for winter visitors, Apache Junction has 125 Mobile Home and Recreational Vehicle Parks and Subdivisions within the city limits. Construction on some of the parks dates back to the 1950s with park construction and design standards varying over the years. Therefore designs, amenities, and conditions vary from park to park. Many older parks are now run down or deteriorating and detrimental to Apache Junction’s image. However, many of the older parks are an affordable option for low-income residents. The city presently has limited regulatory tools that set minimum standards for park maintenance. The purpose of the project is to determine a future path for some of the more blighted parks in the city without reducing the affordable housing stock in the city.

Masters capstone students researched and proposed recommendations for strategies to improve living conditions and safety for residents of these parks. Solutions focus on defining minimum standards and enforceable codes, possible zoning code changes that would allow redevelopment options that include a variety of housing types, and the feasibility of redeveloping/converting a hypothetical pilot project(s) to an alternative affordable residential development.

Spring 2019 final summary report

Mobile Home Parks, RV Parks & the Future of Affordable Housing

New municipal revenue sources for Apache Junction

Retail sales taxes are the primary source of revenue for the City of Apache Junction. The city has seen a slow but steady increase in sales tax revenues but a decline in state transportation funds. Additionally, the potential incorporation of San Tan Valley could impact state-shared revenue. With the growth of online retail and the rapidly changing landscape of brick and mortar retail, the city wants to examine these implications on tax revenues in the city. The slow pace of economic growth, resident’s resistance to property taxes, and high current retail tax rate pose limits on existing and new revenue streams. While the city has little if any debt service, city expenses in the form of employee benefits, maintenance, and infrastructure costs have also been increasing more rapidly than revenues.

This project’s purpose is to examine existing revenue sources and seek out new revenue streams that do not depend on retail sales or property taxes to keep pace with increasing costs. Students will look at peer communities’ innovative revenue structures, fee schedules, and other opportunities for revenue generation and make recommendations for adoption by the city.

Spring 2018 final summary report

Finding New Revenue Sources

Sustainability planning

As a fairly young city, Apache Junction has not had the staff time or resources to examine its future-especially through the lens of sustainability. The primary source of future thinking at the City of Apache Junction has been through General Plan updates, developed every 10 years as mandated by the State of Arizona. The city is interested in what it can do to promote a more sustainable future in the next general plan update. Apache Junction was particularly interested in exploring this topic through the STAR Communities framework.

For this project students conducted a sustainability assessment of the city to determine what assets and opportunities could be leveraged for a more sustainable future. Students then proposed specific sustainability recommendations and language for the city’s next General Plan Update.

Spring 2018 final summary report

Planning a Sustainable Future

Off-leash dog park site analysis

In 2008 the city approved the master plan for an off-leash facility as Phase Four to the city’s existing Prospector Park. A complete set of construction working drawings for the off-leash facility were completed and approved in 2009. Unfortunately, funding for the Phase One off-leash facility did not make it into the budget the following year. A master plan for Silly Mountain Park was also developed and approved by the City in 2008. A major component of that effort was a 4.5 acre dog park, which was included in response to citizen interest during public hearings related to the park. With both proposed dog parks are over 4 acres in size, projected costs for Prospector and Silly Mountain Park are in the millions. To stretch budgets, a 2015 effort by city staff was made to consider lower cost, alternative sites. As a result, a conceptual off-leash dog park plan was developed in an area that the city currently maintains for Pinal County. The estimated cost of a dog park on this site is around $650,000. Though initial discussions have been started with county and city leadership, ideas have not yet been presented to elected officials or the community, and the City is still searching for alternative off-leash sites.

Fall 2017 final summary report

Off-Leash Dog Park

Positively Apache Junction

In years past, Apache Junction residents have seen and heard many stereotypes about their community. Stereotypes have confused and discouraged visitors from spending time and money in the city. In an effort to counteract negative perceptions and inform visitors about Apache Junction’s positive attributes, substantial tourism marketing efforts began in 2009 with the implementation of the Downtown Revitalization and Implementation Strategy (DRIS). One recommendation in the DRIS was to create original branding to identify the downtown area as unique within the city. Another part of the strategy was the development of the downtownaj.com website for updates on the progress of the DRIS, which is being transformed into visitaj.com. Though visitaj.com was originally envisioned as a tool to entice visitors to the burgeoning downtown it has not come to fruition. City staff received new directions and budget appropriations, to begin a partnership with the Arizona Office of Tourism (AOT). The partnership allows the city to explore new advertising opportunities with AOT over the past four years. Through this partnership, a multi-channel approach has been taken that includes both print and digital platforms. Even so, work remains to be done on reversing negative perceptions.

This highly multi-faceted project was broken into several component parts, engaging multiple classes across both the Fall 2017 and Spring 2018 semesters. In Fall 2017, one group of students produced a Sustainable Tourism Plan, while another conducted a city website assessment and compiled recommendations. A third group of students developed a variety of land use plans and landscaping designs. Spring 2018 students focused on the community’s history and culture. One group of students uses online GIS mapping tools to locate physical and cultural assets inside, and adjacent to city limits. Another group of students engaged with city residents to expose historical cultural context through theatrical performances based on local history and resident’s stories.

Fall 2017 final summary report

Positively Apache Junction (Part 1)

Spring 2018 final summary report

Positively Apache Junction (Part 2)

Sustainability and solid waste

Apache Junction is home to the Apache Junction Landfill Corporation’s landfill (a subsidiary of Allied Waste/Republic Services), which offers very low disposal fees to residents. Subscribing to solid waste collection or recycling is not mandated by the city in Apache Junction, and there is no official municipal waste management entity (rather, there are multiple private options). City residents are allowed to bring one pickup truck load of solid waste for free to the landfill, four times a year, and at all other times, the dump rate is only $8.00 per ton. This system creates numerous waste management issues, including high rates of illegal dumping and littering, as well as significant inefficiencies that result from multiple private services running the same routes.

Students researched other communities and waste management strategies, to develop several potential solutions for Apache Junction’s waste management systems. Students compiled recommendations for policies and management practices that could help resolve some of the city’s waste management challenges.

Fall 2017 final summary report

Sustainability & Solid Waste

Understanding homelessness

The City of Apache Junction perceives the rapid increase in homelessness, and illegal activities by homeless people are a growing concern. The Chronic Homeless Committee was established to take a look at the homeless situation and create solutions. In March 2017, the committee held a brainstorming session on ideas for addressing the situation. The city struggles with identifying real concerns versus perceived issues, identifying best practices used by communities similar to Apache Junction, providing effective cross boundary services, and establishing a unified voice among elected officials, management, staff, law enforcement, the business community, and the public.

Fall 2017 final summary report

Understanding Homelessness

Land use planning

The City of Apache Junction was very recently incorporated (1978), and is still in the process of forming its identity and long-term growth strategy. Landscape architecture can help with this, help to stimulate the economy, and improve the quality of life for residents. Apache Junction staff are interested in exploring how concepts such as biomimicry, urban forestry, and transportation oriented design can help.

For this project, students conducted field work to inventory the natural and human characteristics of Apache Junction. Using this information, students focused on how landscape architecture elements can help to stimulate the economy and improve quality of life for Apache Junction residents. Students provided design renderings for multiple sites across the community, and insights on how design elements can complement the city’s natural beauty and help build a sense of community.

Fall 2017 final summary report

Land-use planning